Cat Breaking Free: A Joe Grey Mystery (U)

The fur starts flying when a gang from L.A. comes up to tranquil Molena Point, California, and begins breaking into the village's quaint shops. Joe Grey, Feline P.I., has called Molena Point home since he was a kitten, and he doesn't take well to marauding strangers. Joe even wonders whether the blonde who's moved in next to his human companion Clyde could be a part of the gang--she's been acting pretty suspicious lately. But when the strangers start trapping and caging feral cats it proves too much for Grey. And when one of the gang is murdered, and a second mysterious death comes to light, he has no choice but to try and stop the crimes.Publishers WeeklyMurphy's 11th Joe Grey cat cozy (after Cat Cross Their Graves) offers the usual winning blend of suspense and whimsy. A feral cat, a mauled and very dead motorcyclist in a ravine and a series of boutique robberies bode ill for Joe's human companion, Clyde Damen; Clyde's feisty new building contractor girlfriend, Ryan Flannery; and the other residents of scenic Molena Point, Calif. It's largely up to those incorrigible feline snoops and snitches-Joe and buddies Dulcie and Kit, who cavort over the rooftops at night and eat the best of restaurant food-to thwart a gang of thieves from Los Angeles hiding out in the nearby hills. A complex, well-crafted plot and lively, credible characters will leave fans purring with pleasure. (Dec.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.